Ever since I saw those social-media titans lined up together, with their buddies, new rulers of the non-free world, I've been unable, in good conscience, to post things that lead people to Amazon. I've had trouble even posting routine things on Facebook, though that's more social; that's where friends of my generation all are.

But if I abandon Amazon (go wide, they call it), what is there for me? I'm actually not giving up all that much, as I wasn't making a fortune on Amazon, and the payouts for people actually reading your KU work are miserably small. But the advantage of working through Createspace (Amazon subsidiary) has always been the ability to order just one, or maybe two books. If they make five in preparation for you to order more, it's on them. Some of my early books are actually one-offs - that is, I made one, bought one, changed the cover, and made another. And it cost me what, all of a few bucks?

No sooner did I start investigating competitors to Createspace (people who promise they'll print, on order, whatever you want), than I started getting offers from millions of them. That's right, Facebook knew instantly what I was thinking, and tipped off all these printing companies which were pretty quick on the draw. The thing that bothers me is, they don't make it clear you can make just one. Or, make it clear how much just making one would be.

I've reached the point where, if I'm selling anything, I want to give my buyers the option to not go through Amazon. They may, like me, have an aversion to supporting techno-Russia, and if they do, I'm all with them. But I don't quite know how to go about it. I obviously need a website that links to other sources besides Amazon.

That little hurdle has proven to be a little overwhelming. I'm exhausted. We have a personal situation. I need to make real money, not invest many hours into this kind of operation. It may be time to admit defeat, and just kick back a little. I am, after all, turning seventy-one.